“The Next Conor McGregor”? Meet Our Rising MMA Stars

 
 

06/11/2017

Television news

 
 

Given that he’s widely regarded as the biggest star in the sport, it goes without saying that Conor McGregor is undoubtedly our reigning MMA king. But Irish fighting is about far more than just The Notorious – in fact, there’s a legion of warriors ready to kick (and punch, and grapple!) down the door to global stardom.

Plenty of his SBG teammates will be in action on November 10 at 3Arena, for a Bellator/BAMMA co-presentation. It might just serve as a launchpad for our next all-conquering star, so we’ve picked a few of the names we may see in lights in years to come.

 

JAMES GALLAGHER

The Strabane prodigy may be but 21 years old, but he’s already marked out as the hottest prospect in Irish MMA; only injury has prevented a glorious homecoming this month. Boasting an unblemished record in his seven fights, he’s clocked up wins all over the globe – including a flawless submission victory in his last fight at Madison Square Garden. He’s also nicknamed ‘The Strabanimal’; if they awarded titles for nicknames, he’d probably be the world champ already!

 

RICHIE KIELY

The Dubliner was a decorated kickboxer; little surprise his first two fights have ended in knockout, then! The welterweight will take on Alex Lohoré for the BAMMA 170lb title on November 10, and with a raucous 3Arena crowd behind him, an upset is certainly possible. Even if this opportunity proves to be too soon, though, we’d imagine it will be far from his last big chance.

 

SINEAD KAVANAGH

The Inchicore native was a five-time national boxing champ – only a pair of dodgy judging decisions kept her from the 2012 Olympics. Now, the featherweight fighter is campaigning as a mixed martial artist, and an amateur career that saw her claim a world silver medal suggests that she could well make it at the top in the pro ranks.

 

BRIAN MOORE

Another SBG up-and-comer in action on the 3Arena card, the featherweight will have his work cut out for him against the hotly-tipped Bellator star A.J. McKee. A three fight win-streak landed him the potential breakthrough bout, and victory over the highly-rated American would launch him towards the very summit of the division.

 
 
 
 

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